Machado goes back to wearing batting gloves ... for two at-bats

After going 2-for-5 with an RBI single while not wearing batting gloves in the Orioles' 7-4 win Saturday, third baseman Manny Machado went back to wearing the gloves for his first two at-bats Sunday.

But after going 0-for-2 with the gloves, Machado ditched them for his third at-bat and hit an RBI single in the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Machado said there's no specific reason why he hit without batting gloves Saturday. He had base hits in his first two at-bats, hitting a run-scoring single in the first and a one-out triple in the second as the Orioles scored the first seven runs of the game — all in the first three innings.

"Just something different," Machado said. "Just change it up a little bit. Just change it up, you got to change it up every once in a while."

Machado insisted the move wasn't provoked by anything specifically.

"I did it in the minor leagues and when I was younger," Machado said. "It's something that just came out of nowhere, really. I think I might ride it out for a couple more days. I don't know. It's a game-time decision."

Despite hitting a ball off his right ankle bone, first baseman Chris Davis was still in the starting lineup for Sunday's game.

"He's fine," Showalter said. "He feels good. He's ready to go."

When Davis saw reporters in the Orioles clubhouse before the game, he made it a point to jokingly drag his right foot behind him when walking by.

Around the horn

Right-hander Kevin Gausman went 3 1/3 innings Sunday night for Triple-A Norfolk, allowing two runs on five hits, walked two and struck out one, throwing 70 pitches, 41 of them strikes. Gausman was making his first start since June 19. He worked as a reliever in his last stint with the Orioles and pitched four relief innings in his first outing back with Norfolk last Sunday. … Nate McLouth led off each game of the Texas series with a base hit following his first-inning leadoff single to open Sunday's game. … After scoring seven runs in the first three innings Saturday, the Orioles own a plus-61 run differential. They have been outscored by 49 runs in innings four through six but own a plus-20 run differential in the seventh inning and beyond. … The Orioles sent right-hander Scott Feldman to Kansas City ahead of the team on Sunday. He will start Monday's series opener against the Royals.